Sanitizing device



May 30, 1944.

R. w. BERGMAN SANITIZING DEvIcE Filed may 21. 1942 -Mwwf Patented May30, 1944 A SANITIZING DEVICE Raymond W. Bergman, Lockport, IIL, assignerto The Scholl Mfg. Co., Inc., Chicago, lll., a corporation of New YorkApplication May 21,1942, serial No. asse s claims. (ci. 21-54) Thisinvention relates to improvements in a sanitizing device and a method ofsanitizing, the invention being highly desirable for use in connectionwith the sanitizing or sterilizing of articles of wearing apparel such,for example, as shoes, gloves, hats, etc.

Frequently, in stores or other places where articles of clothing aresold or otherwise dispensed, it is necessary for a customer to actuallytry on the particular article desired before a proper fit is obtained.This is especially true in stores where shoes are sold. Ofttimes acustomer will try on several pair before deciding which pair topurchase, and if that customer is a victim of some infectious ailment ordisease, the shoes tried on but not purchased are quite probablyinfected. Thus, there is the danger of a subsequent customer acquiring,innocentlyy enough, some such aiiliction as epidermophytosis, pompholyx,scabies,

, or some other serious or distinctly uncomfortable aiiction. 'I'helsale of gloves, hats, and similar items of apparel may also result inthe transmission of infectious skin diseases and eruptions.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the presentinvention to provide a device which will easily and quickly sanitize orsterilize an article of apparel.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device whereinthe sanitizing or sterilizing medium may be disposed within the articleto be treated, so as to insure adequate sanitization or sterilization.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a devicewhich utilizes a radiation lamp so arranged as to project inside thearticle to be treated to insure an adequate emanation-of sterif lizingrays to the article.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a sanitizing device inwhich a sterilizing lamp is used, and which device is provided withmeans to both support the article of apparel to be treated and also actas a guard for the sterilizing lamp.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of asanitizing device for articles of apparel which is in the form of acabinet with an electrical sterilizing device in the cabinet, and inwhich cabinet the article to be treated may be placed, the energizationof the electrical sterilizing device being controlled automatically bythe door of the cabinet.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantagesof the instant invention have been above pointed out, others willbetaken in conJunction with the accompanyin drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in projection of a sanitizing device embodyingfeatures of the present invention, illustrating its use with an articleof apparel; l

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the device ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, with parts in elevation, ofthe upper right-hand portion of Figure 2, illustrating the cabinet doorin partially open position to denote how the sterilizing medium may becontrolled automatically by the action of the door;

Figure 4 is a simplified wiring diagram of the elecrical connectionsassociated with the. invention.

As shown on the drawing:

For the purpose of clarity and convenience, the instant invention willbe described in connection with the sanitizing or sterilizlng of shoes,an article of apparel forwhich the invention is highly desirable.

The illustrated embodiment 4of the invention includes a cabinet 5,preferably provided with a transparent panel 6 in a wall thereof. Toailord ready access to the interior of the cabinet 5, a door or lid 'Imay be provided, hinged or otherwise secured to the body of the cabinetas indicated at 8, this door preferably seating in a mortised seat asindicated at 8.

One wall Il, in the illustrated instance the bottom of the cabinet, isfalse with the true wall or bottom' II disposed therebelow thusproviding a space I2 therebetween. Secured to the true wall or bottom II and occupying the space I2 is a pair of sockets I3 for the receptionof a radiation lamp preferably energized by electricity and preferablyof a character to provide ultra-violet radiation oi.' a character todestroy germs, bacteria, mold, and other micro-organisms.

Above each socket I3 the false wall or bottom III is provided with anopening I5 through which the lamp extends into the interiorof thecabinet 5. It will be noted that the lamp is thus spaced away from allwalls of the cabinet except that through which it extends. Immediatelybelow the opening I5 in the false wall or bottom III aI rays emanated bythe lamp Il, extends throughv the opening I! and is secured to theflange I5.

come apparent from the following disclosures, In the illustratedinstance. this guard is in the y ly simple and very highly effective.

form of a wire shield made up of a plurality of pieces of bent wire,each leg of the shi ld extending through the opening I and being turnedover as indicated at I8 to provide a foot which is spot-welded orotherwise secured to the flange I6. The lamp I4 extends inside of theguard Il as clearly seen in Figure 2.

' All electrical apparatus that might be deemed necessary, such astransformers, and all electricalwiring, with the exception of a pair ofleads I9 and 20 and a switch 2I located near the top of the cabinet,preferably occupy the space I 2 and are secured for stability to thetrue wall or bottom II. The energization of the lamps Il is controlledby the switch 2|, and such control of the electrical circuit is entirelyautomatic resulting from the mere opening and closing of the door l. Theswitch 2l is provided with an actuating pin or plunger 22 which projectsup into the mortised seat 9 for the door lI, as seen in Figure 3, whenthe door is opened. In this position, namely when the door is opened,the switch 2| breaks the circuit and de-energizes the radiation lamps.When the door is closed, as seen in Figure 2, the plunger 22 isdepressed by the door and closes the circuit, thus energizing the lamps.

In Figure 4 I have illustrated a schematic diagram which is satisfactoryfor the operation of one or more radiation lamps in a device of thecharacter illustrated. In this diagram, conductors 23 and 24 may extendto any suitable source of electrical energy. The switch 2i is preferablyin one of these wires, in the illustrated instance wire or conductor 23,between the source of energy and the first lamp connection, so that thisswitch automatically controls all of the lamps simultaneously. Each lampI4 is preferably connected across the secondary of a transformer 25, andthe primary of the transformer is preferably connected across the line23-2. All such lamp and transformer arrangements are preferablyparalleled across the line 23-24 on the opposite side of the switch 2lfrom the source of energy.

While I have illustrated a cabinet containing two radiation lamps, itwill be appreciated that only one lamp or as many more as might bedesired may be used in the cabinet. In operation, the present inventionis extreme- It is only necessary, in connection with shoes for example,for the clerk or sales person to assemble shoes tried on but notpurchased by a customer. The clerk.may then take these shoes, a pair ata time, simply open the door 'I of the cabinet, and

place a shoe 26 over each guard I4 so that both the guard and the lampextend Within the shoe, as seen clearly in Figure l. With the shoes soplaced, the clerk merely closes the door 'l and by way of the switch 2l,both lamps are simultaneously energized and emanate theirbacteriadestroying rays directly into the interior of the shoes beingtreated. After a short interval of time, the door is again opened, thusde-energizing the lamps, and the sanitized or sterilized pair of shoesremoved, a new pair substituted, and the process repeated. It should beespecially noted that the guard I'I not only protects its respectiveradiation lamp, but also functions as a support for the article beingsanitized. If any question should arise as to thorough sanitization orsterilization in view of the use of the guard I1. it is a simpleexpedient to turn the shoe slightly on the guard from its originalposition to insure direct emanation of rays to every part of the shoe. v

The cabinet 5 may have its electrical arrangement so that the wires 23vand 24 extend through a wall of the cabinet inside a cable 21 equippedwith the usual wall plug 28 to permit the cabinet to be placedin adesired position adjacent any wall plug, and transported from place toplace as may be deemed most expedient.

It is believed that my novel method of sanitizing or sterilizingarticles of apparel is sufciently apparent from the foregoing as torender further description herein unnecessary.

From the above description, it will be noted that I have provided anovel sanitizing or sterilizing device, conveniently handled, highlyeffective in operation, substantially foolproof and simple in itsoperation, and which is highly durable and may be economicallymanufactured and used. It is also apparent that I have provided a newand novel method of sanitizing or sterilizing an article of apparel.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmaybe varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of. theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the character described for sanitizing an article ofapparel, a cabinet, an article support in said cabinet, and a gaseousdischarge lamp extending inside said support, said article supporthaving large openings therein and functioning both as a support for thearticle undergoing sanitization and as a guard for said lamp.

2. In a, sanitizing device, a gaseous discharge lamp, mounting means forsaid lamp, and a guard disposed ov er said lamp and shaped to allowunimpeded radiation from the major portion of said lamp. said guard alsobeing arranged to support an article of apparel to be sanitized byradiations from said lamp.

3. In a/sanitizing device for articles of apparel', a cabinet, a falsebottom in said' cabinet having an opening therein, a wire guardextending inwardly from said opening in position to support an articleof apparel, a true bottom in said cabinet, and a radiation lamp carriedby said true bottom and projecting through said opening inside saidguard.

4. In a sanitizing device for articles of apparel, a cabinet, a falsebottom in said cabinet .having an opening therein, a wire guardextending inwardly from said opening in position to support an articleof apparel, a true bottom in said cabinet, a radiation lamp carried bysaid true bottom and projecting through said opening inside said guard,a door on said cabinet, an electric circuit including said lamp, andswitch means automatically operated by movements of said door to controlthe energization of said circuit.

5. In'a shoe sanitizing device, a cabinet, a wire guard projectinginwardly from a wall of said cabinet and sized to extend inside a shoedrawn overthe guard, a radiation lamp of a type to destroymicro-organisms extending inside said guard, and means for energizingsaid lamp.

RAYMOND w. BERGMAN.

